Horns show their mettle

4:55pm Saturday 16th February 2008

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DAN SHITTU made amends for putting through his own net by scoring the equaliser as Watford came from two goals down to grab a point at The Valley this afternoon.

Goals from Darren Ambrose and an own goal from Shittu, against the club where he started his career, put Charlton in the driving seat. But Watford struck twice in the space of 60 second-half seconds through half-time substitute John-Joe O'Toole and Shittu to earn a draw that cements their position in second place behind new leaders Stoke.

The result means Watford can be overtaken by Bristol City, who play Crystal Palace on Monday night, but Aidy Boothroyd will be thrilled at the character his side showed to come back from the dead, particularly after the huge physical effort his side produced against Leicester in midweek.

Aware that defeat would leave them ten points behind the Hornets and virtually spell the end of their hopes of automatic promotion, Charlton started with a real spring in their step.

Alan Pardew's men were bracing themselves for Watford's direct approach but it was from a route-one move that the Addicks fashioned their first chance after just four minutes. A booming clearance kick from Nicky Weaver was flicked on by Andy Gray and volleyed over Richard Lee's bar by Luke Varney.

Three minutes later and Watford created their first their chance. Nathan Ellington picked out Jobi McAnuff on the left-hand side and then collected a cut back from the winger which he struck first time only to see it deflect just past the left-hand post for the first corner of the match.

Varney headed a deep cross from Lloyd Sam just past the far post soon after but the goal Charlton had been threatening arrived on 16 minutes. A well-flighted cross from the impressive Greg Halford was knocked down into the path of Ambrose by Gray and the former Ipswich beat Lee from close range.

Halford then flicked a near-post corner from Ambrose just over the bar while, at the other end, Ellington fired into the side-netting.

Charlton always looked threatening down the right flank and it was from another move down that side of the field that culminated in the home side making it two on 36 minutes.

A clever pass from Sam that bisected two Watford players picked out the overlapping Halford and his low cross was deflected past his own keeper by Dan Shittu.

Having set-up in a defensive fashion, particularly in midfield where John Eustace and Al Bangura sat in front of the back four, this was a disastrous start for the Hornets who now had to abandon their game plan and play on the front foot.

What the Hornets needed was a goal before half-time, and they almost got it when Jobi McAnuff cut in front of the left and saw his right-footed effort bounce back off the post. Up until that point Watford had relied on set pieces and the throw of Leigh Bromby, which Charlton dealt with fairly comfortably.

Seeking a route back into the game Boothroyd made an attacking change at the break by bringing on O'Toole for Al Bangura. The manager was, unusually, also at the centre of a team huddle that took place just before the second half got underway.

The substitution paid off after just eight minutes of the second half. Smith picked up possession on the right flank, checked inside his man and saw his low left-footed cross slid home by O'Toole, who has a real knack of arriving in the box at just the right time.

A minute later and the Hornets were sensationally level. An inswinging corner from Matt Sadler found Shittu, who soared above his man to power in his eighth goal of the season.

Shittu gave the visiting fans a huge scare on 67 minutes when he landed awkwardly and went down clutching his neck after hurling himself over the back of Gray in an attempt to win yet another header. Fortunately, the strapping Nigerian got back to his feet and took his place in a back four who were given a fresh challenge when Pardew introduced Lee Cook, the former Hornet who was roundly booed by the visiting fans.

Halford, meanwhile, showed Bromby he was not the only player on the field who possessed a missile of a throw by picking out Jonathan Fortune on 74 minutes. The defender, however, could not generate enough power on his header and picked out Lee from six yards.

Watford showed they have slightly more to their repertoire on 76 minutes when an intricate move involving Henderson and McAnuff resulted in Smith shooting just over from the left-hand side.

Pardew went for broke on 77 minutes, bringing on Chris Iwelumo and Jerome Thomas in a last throw of the dice. He, however, was grateful to a last-ditch tackle from Fortune on McAnuff on 79 minutes after the former Palace winger looked skated clear following a flick-on. McAnuff still managed to get his shot away but it rolled just past the post for a corner.

McAnuff was in the thick of the action soon after, forcing a low one-handed save from Weaver after cutting in from the left. The Hornets were given one last chance to complete a thrilling comeback in injury-time but Ellington curled a free-kick just over the bar.

To rate the performances of the players against Charlton, click here

Charlton: Weaver; Halford, McCarthy, Fortune, Youga; Sam, Holland (c), Zhi, Ambrose; Gray, Varney.

Subs: Cook for Ambrose, 68; Thomas and Iwelumo for Sam and Gray, 77; Elliott and Sodje not used.

Watford: Lee; Mariappa, Bromby, Shittu, Sadler; Smith, Eustace, Bangura, McAnuff; Henderson, Ellington.

Subs: O'Toole for Bangura, 45. Poom, Doyley, Williamson, Ainsworth.